Apparatus for dispensing flexible merchandise containers



Feb. 24, 1959 T. E. PIAZZE 2,874,836

' APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING FLEXIBLE MERCHANDISE CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 5. 1954 APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING FLEXIBLE MERCHANDISE QONTAINERS Thomas E. Piazze, Mount Vernon, Ohio, assignor to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 5, 1954, Serial No. 448,067

Claims. (Cl. 225-406) This invention relates to packaging and is more par,- ticularly concerned with improvements in apparatus for use in packaging merchandise in successive containers in a rapid and efficient manner.

It is a general object of the invention to provide apparatus for use in packaging merchandise in flexible containe'rs, which containers are formed of a continuous plastic film material, or the like, and which are supplied in connected roll form.

It is a further object of the invention to provide apparatus for use in packaging merchandise in containers which are formed of relatively flexible and limp material, such as a plastic film, and which are supplied to the operator in connected series, the apparatus being adapted to facilitate separation of successive containers from the source of supply and presentation of the same, with the mouth thereof in open condition, to a filling funnel, or the like, for receiving therein a predetermined quantity of the merchandise which is to be packaged.

It is another object of the invention to provide an apparatus for facilitating the handling of a plurality of containers which are formed of plastic film material and which are supplied to the apparatus in connected series or roll form, which apparatus is so arranged that the operator. is able to Withdraw a single container from the supply thereof and separate the same from the next succeeding container by a tearing operation.

It is another object of the invention to provide a mechanism for use in dispensing merchandise containers or.

bags which are supplied in connected series or roll form which comprises a support for a roll of the bags and associated apparatus permitting the bags to be withdrawn and removed from the roll, which apparatus includes an abutment member adapted to project through an aperture in a perforated line separating each bag in the roll from the next succeeding bag as the bags are unwound from the roll and moved in a predetermined path past the abutment member, whereby the endmost bag may be separated from the end of the roll by tearing along the perforated line separating it from the next succeeding bag while the next succeeding bag is held against advancing movement by engagement with the abutment member.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be, apparent from a consideration of the apparatus and the method of using the same which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of apparatus arranged for dispensing a roll of connected containers which embodies the principles of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear perspective view of the apparatus;

Fig. 3' is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, to an enlarged scale;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a roll of the container material; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the separation of the containers. 1

Referring first to Fig. 4 of the drawings, there is illus- 2,"i4,88t5 Patented Feb. 24, 1959 is... trated a supply roll 10 of the containers 11 with which the dispensing mechanism is adapted to be employed. The roll 10 comprises a plurality of the connected containers 11, each of which is formed from a section of flat tubular material which is initially provided with infolded sides or bellows fold formations 12. Each of the containers 11 is separated from the adjoining container in the roll 10 by a transverse seal formation 13 and a perforated transverse tearing line 14 which is provided adjacent the transverse seal 13. The perforated tearing line 14 preferably comprises a center slit 15 of substantial width and a plurality of smaller slits or perforations extending from the center slit 15 to opposite side edges of the tube.

The dispensing apparatus 20 (Figs. 1 to 3) which is adapted to support the roll 10 for ready removal therefrom of the individual containers 11 comprises a circular support plate 21 which is preferably positioned in vertical or upright relation relative to a horizontal supporting surface. The plate 21 is secured to an upright frame forming bar or plate 22 having cross bars 23 and 24 at,

opposite ends. The lower end cross bar 23 is provided at its opposite ends with laterally extending parallel rods 25 and 26 which are adapted to cooperate with the end cross bar 23 to provide a U-shaped bottom supporting frame when the apparatus is supported on a table top or other horizontal surface. The top end. cross bar 24 is apertured at opposite ends at 27 and 28 to permit the apparatus to be fastened to a vertical or overhead support. .A handle forming bar or rod member 29 extends laterally of the cross bar 24 intermediate its ends to facilitate handling of the apparatus.

, The roll 10 is adapted to. be rotatably mounted on a cylindrical supporting member 30 which extends laterally of the frame member 22. The free end 31 of the web The shaft 36 carries adjacent its free end a cross pin 38 which is slidably mounted in a radial aperture 39 with a removable cotter pin 40 at one end; and a guide roller 41 rotatably mounted on the other end for bearing against the end edge of the core 42 of the roll 10 to retain the roll 10 in proper alignment on the support 30.

The end 31 of the web material passes from the takeup roller 32 beneath a fixed guide roller, 43 (Figs. 1 and 3) which is rotatably mounted on a shaft 44 extending laterally of a supporting bracket formation which comprises the horizontal bar or plate 45 extending from the main vertical support member 22 and a vertically extending bar or plate 46 mounted on the end of support bar 45. The guide roller 43 is arranged in parallel relation with take-up roller 32 and the roll support '30. A rod 47 extends laterally of the vertical support plate 46 immediately above the guide roller 43 and provides a supporting member for an abutment pin 48 which projects outwardly beyond the surface of the adjoining guide roller 43. The abutment pin 48 is provided in its outer free end with an axially extending vertical slot 49 and a disk-like roller 5t) of relatively small diameter is journaled therein which bears against the web material as it is pulled by the operator in a vertical direction upwardly of the guide roller 43.

The web material is held against the surface of the guide roller 43 by a spring plate 51 which is clamped to a supporting bar member 52 extending from the vertical support member 46 by means of a clamp bar 53 and cooperating clamp bolts 54. The spring plate 51 is formedof relatively thin resilient plate material and is curved at 55 adjacent its upper end to conform to the curvature of the roller 43 andtopressthe web material against the same. t

In using theapparatus-the frame is set up as desired and securedin place. The roll'of material is secured on the support member 3% by lifting the pin 38 sufiicien't' to pass the hollow core '42of the roll over the same. Thereafter, the "free end 31 of the roll 10 is threaded over the take-up roller 32, beneath the guide roller 43' and upwardly between the roll Bend the spring plate rnem 51 in urging the same toward the roller'43, which is im mediate'ly'belo-wthe pin 48, and the'tension in the ma ter'ial due tothe operators pull on the same in the vertical direction. The individual containers llma'y thenv be separated from the supply roll 10 by pulling upwardly on the same until thepin 48 engages in the center slit in =theiperforated tearing-line 1'4 and penetrates the web material as shown iii-Figs. 3' and 5. Continued-pull on the end of the material "causes the end to tear off on the perforated line 14, while the adjoining portion of the'material is held against advancing movement by the abutmentpin 48 as shown in Fig. 5.

I claim: H 1. Apparatus for dispensing a'rol'l'of connected con tainers-which'are collapsed to form a relatively narrow weband which are separated by longitudinally spaced cross perforations, with the individual perforation lines each having -'acenter slit formation,- said apparatus comprising'a supporting frame, means extending from the supporting frame for'supporting the roll of containers so that thesame may be unwound therefrom, a roller extending from said supporting frame in parallel spaced relation to the container supporting means 'over which the endmost container is adapted to advance, a bracket onsaidsupporting frame immediately adjacent said roller having a surface portion extending generally parallel to the axis ofsaid'roller, a pin secured in fixed relation on saidsurfaceportion'and having a'free end portion projec ting into the ,path of movement of the containers and generally normal to the plane in which they advance, a bracket extending from said supporting. frame at the opposite side of said roller and a spring plate mounted on said last mentioned "bracket and having a free end portion positioned in resilient engagement with the surface of said roller for urging the containers towardsaid roller and, OV61' ti16 end of said-pin.

2. Apparatus for dispensing a roll of relatively narrow web"material which is divided into sections by lines of cross perforations at'l'ongitudinally spaced intervals, said apparatus comprising a supporting frame, a material supporting shaft extending from the supporting frame for receiving the roll of material so that the end may be unwound therefrom, a roller supporting shaft extending from said supporting frame'in .para'llel spaced relation ,to the material supporting shaft and having rotatably' mounted thereon a'roller of'relatively small cross section over which the end of the material is adapted to advance,

a bracket'extending from said supporting frame immediately' adjacent one side of said roller supporting shaft' andan abutment forming pin secured in fixed relationon said bracket and having a 'free'end portion extending in a directionlgenerally normal to the plane of the web said last mentioned bracket and having its free end bearing against the curved surface of said roller adjacent said abutment pin for urging the material toward said roller and into engagement with said abutment pin whereby upon movement of said material over said abutment pin the latter will penerate said material as it registers with the lines of cross perforations;

3. Apparatus for dispensing a roll of material which is cross perforated at longitudinally spaced intervals, with the individual perforation lines each having a center slit formation, said apparatus comprising a support for the roll of material, means for guiding the end of the material in a predetermined path, a supporting roll member extending across the path of-the material-over which the material is pulled, a bracket mounted immediately adjacent the curved surface of said roll member and having a surface portion generally parallel to the axis of said supporting roll member, an abutment memher in the form of a pin extending in fixed relation from said bracket; and generally normal to said snrlface'po'et'io'n, said abutment pin engaging the surface of the material as it is pulled across the same, and'resilie'nt means for urging the material against the surface of said roll member to cause the material to'stretch over the end of said abutment pin' and engage the same in the center slit formation of successive cross perforations, whereby to permit the successive endmost'po'r'tions' of the material to be separated from the remaining material by the application of pulling force in the direction of advano" ing movement of the material and generally normal to the. axis of said abutment pin while the remaining materia'l'is restrained by said abutment pin;

'4; Apparatus" for'dispensing aroll of relatively mar rowweb material which is divided into sections by lines of cross perforations at longitudinally spaced intervals,

said apparatus comprising a supporting frame, a shaft' extending'from the supporting frame 'for receiving the diately adjacent said guide .roll and an abutment forming pin on said bracket having a free end portion thereof projecting into the path of movement of the material as it is advanced over the roller, said abutment ,p'inha-ving a slot in its end and a disc-like roller jour'na'lle'dinsaid slot for engaging with the web material along .a

relatively narrow line in the axial direction of the mate: rial and for penetrating the material at the perforating lines whereby successive individual sections of the lmatcrial may be torn from the roll.

5'. Apparatus for dispensing'la roll of relatively narrow web material which is divided by lines-of cross perforations at longitudinally spaced intervals, said apparatus comprisinga-supporting frame, a shaft extending from the supporting frame for receivingithe roll of material .so

that the end may be unwound therefrom, a roller guidemember extending from said supporting frame in parallel radially spaced relationto the material receiving shaft over which the end :of the material is adapted to advance; a bracket extending from said supporting frame immediately adjacent said roller guide member,- an abutment forming pin on said bracket havingtits free end slotted andwprojectingl into the path of movement of the mater'ialkas it advances from the roller guide member,-

an anti-friction disc member rotatably supported .in the slotted end of said abutment pin for engaging withthe inner face .of the material as it advances over the';end

of said abutment pin, a bracket extending from said-sup portinguframe :at the opposite side of said roller guide member and a spring plate secured on said last mentionedbracket andhavin-g a- -free -end-- portion thereon positioned to bear against the outer face 'of-wthe '1we't material asit advances over said roller guide nnembier aga'msse 5 and over the end of said abutment pin for resiliently urging the material toward said roller guide member and against the end. of said abutment pin whereby said abutment pin will penetrate the material when the material is advanced to register the lines of perforations with the end of said abutment pin.

495,892 Keep Apr. 18, 1893 r: u Straight Sept. 2, 1913 Ingram Mar. 5, 1929 Rogers May 24, 1932 Landis Aug. 8, 1939 Walden Apr. 30, 1940 Piazze Aug. 21, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Jan. 2, 1941 

